weekly astrology forecast | August 8 - 14, 2022 - one more code red week as we figure out what really matters and how we want to spend our precious and finite time on this beautiful planet

 

 

Another BIG week!

 

Keep in mind, it's summer and we only get so many of them, rest/enjoy when you can. 

 

As we start the week, Venus's trine to Neptune (and both Uranus and the North Node are answering to Venus) is waning now, but still in play. Mars is in Taurus, also answering to Venus. Jupiter is retrograde in Aries and answering to Mars. We don't have to make huge moves to create magic. When we hold our energy intact until the right moment and then release it in small amounts, we find the connection to a larger universe that is constantly growing/bringing abundance. 

 

The magic (Mercury) is in the details (Virgo). 

 

In the background of EVERYTHING is our childhood woundings. The huge efforts we had to make as a child to try to have our needs met have created an illusion of struggle and effort. Black Moon Lilith in Cancer this spring/summer (the womb wound, woman who chooses herself) is finally moving out of the orb of her square to Jupiter, beginning to move within orb of a healing trine to Chiron. 

 

We are putting old ghosts to bed. 

 

The Full Moon in Aquarius on Thursday - highly active on Wednesday, too - will be illuminating/bring situations to a head or to a conclusion. Can be JARRING. This one is challenged by Saturn, squaring the Nodes of Fate and Uranus and ruled by Uranus and Saturn, so again expecting the unexpected/keeping a cool head/having back up plans looks like a good idea. The Saturn/Uranus square of old vs new, battle for rulership of the Age of Aquarius, is AGAIN pulled into the mix - collectively and personally.

Once we get past this week, if we are happy with recent changes we can keep moving forward. If life has tossed a curveball at our head, our ability to adjust/move with the changes will help us get a footing in this new territory. Next week, for most people, we get a chance to catch our breath. 

 

Let's unpack the week!

MONDAY - Sun trine Chiron, Lion's Gate 8/8

TUESDAY - Venus opposes Pluto, Mercury inconjunct Jupiter

WEDNESDAY - the Sun squares North Node/South Node, Sun squares Uranus 

THURSDAY - Full Moon in Aquarius, Venus enters Leo, Mars sextiles Neptune

SUNDAY - Sun opposes Saturn, Mars trines Pluto, Mercury inconjuncts Chiron

 

MONDAY - Sun trine Chiron, Lion's Gate 8/8

The Sun's trine to Chiron at 16 degrees Leo and Aries is all about healing. Physical healing. Forgiveness. We step onto the center-stage of our own life/follow our heart/do our Leo and very old, very deep wounds are healed. The king knights the wounded hero. The wounded hero brings humility/humanity to the king.

 

Happening at the Sirius infused 8/8 energy portal (although I think the significance of the actual date itself is questionable and maybe more about the power of 8's?), which is believed by some to be an intense activation period for higher timelines, could speak about what is needed to bring greater consciousness to us personally and to the collective. Sirius is a fixed star, the brightest star in the sky, located at 16 degrees Cancer, so exactly semi-sextile the Sun in Leo today and squaring Chiron. This year the "Lion's Gate" date makes a little more sense to me as it pulls in/amplifies that trine from the Sun to Chiron. We don't have to hide our vulnerabilities/weak spots. Our scars are shiny, too.

TUESDAY - Venus opposes Pluto, Mercury inconjunct Jupiter

 

On her way out of Cancer, Venus needs to get past this opposition to Pluto, exact today. More relationship DYNAMITE. Power struggles. Our needs vs their power. It's uncomfortable/intense. Manipulation, Jealousy. Secrets. Maybe we want something too much. Plutonian power is a double edged sword/can bring curses, because as we get fixated on having something and maybe we get it, maybe we don't, but either way - there is a high price to pay for the obsession. If we are not walking our talk with our values or clinging to something - a relationship, source of income, family/home situation - that we aren't lining up with anymore/that is dead, well here is where Pluto can pull the rug out from under us.

The awkward inconjunct between Mercury and Jupiter doesn't help, is uncomfortable, too. It's a struggle to say the right thing/be heard. Virgo/Aries is a challenging blend. Virgo is precise and detailed, but also generous with criticism for all kinds of inconsistencies and Aries just wants to go and has no patience with the tedious details. Plus Mercury and Jupiter rule opposing signs to boot. The common ground is there isn't any, so know we will have to adjust. Things will be imperfect/in-flux. When making decisions now, take some extra time to weigh the pros and cons because our thinking can tend to be off. Things looking worse or better than they actually are is likely. Disagreements can turn into arguments and get out of hand, so know that going in. Take the high road.

 

WEDNESDAY - the Sun squares North Node/South Node, Sun squares Uranus

 

The Sun in Leo's square to the Nodes of Fate - and this is all part of tomorrow's Full Moon - can illuminate via situations or choice points our ties to complicated story-lines, third party situations, jealousies, power struggles, secrets, tax/inheritance issues, deaths (South Node in Scorpio) vs the more simple, practical, stable and less sexy way forward (North Node in Taurus). With the Sun in egoic Leo, it can be hard to remove ourselves from the drama, but we have to put our need for stability/simplicity first. This is about what really matters. This is about what we already have. What are our resources, talents? Where is our money going? Are we taking care of ourselves? Are we spending our precious/finite time on this beautiful planet in the best possible ways? Step away from the manipulative yuck (that is comfortable because it is familiar) and into something more simple, and a little scary because it is NEW. 

 

This is all complicated by Uranus, step in step with the North Node, so the Sun is squaring him, too. This can indicate a jarring disruption. The Sun's need to shine/have fun vs Uranus's need to change things up/liberate us from the restrictive nature of our ego. More change or 'be changed' energy folks. The Moon will be in Aquarius, so detaching a bit, using our head instead of our heart here can be helpful. Although the Moon is answering to and squaring Uranus also, so there won't be easy answers if this is hitting our chart.

 

THURSDAY - Full Moon in Aquarius, Venus enters Leo, Mars sextiles Neptune

 

This Full Moon looks challenging, is conjunct a retrograde Saturn and squaring the Nodes of Fate. The modern ruler of this lunation, Uranus, is also squaring the Sun and the Moon. Fixed T-Squares are tricky. Saturn can make things too serious/depressing. We will find a way through when we unpack the Full Moon in its own post!

Venus enters fiery Leo. Our Leo house, a space we have intended to SHINE in this lifetime, becomes more attractive. Leo Suns and rising signs are more naturally attractive (ie easy on the eye and able to attract what they want). We attract what we want and need (Venus) through Leo now - so by standing out, standing up, being passionate, taking center stage - you get the idea. Wallflowers will wilt (although everything is wilting in this heat anyway!).

 

We could, of course, go overboard with all of this. Leo (ruled by the Sun) doesn't really like others blocking the light. Competition can get ugly. We could become downright diva-like. Being in love with being in love fits here, too. 

 

Wanting to be adored will make being ignored all that much harder to handle.

 

SUNDAY - Sun opposes Saturn, Mars trines Pluto, Mercury inconjuncts Chiron

As if the Sun hasn't had enough challenges this week, now it's his turn to deal with that retrograde Saturn in Aquarius. We are blocked. Reality checked. This is not the time to ask for a raise or go up against authority. This aspect, accompanied by Mercury inconjunct Chiron, can make interactions painful/make it hard to express ourselves. Maybe in practical terms, we want to play and we have to work. We want our center stage and we have to take a seat in the audience. The Sun is in his home sign and Saturn is in his home sign (ancient), both powerful. Bruised egos are possible now. Old daddy issues show up. Saturn is retrograde, so this likely won't be a brand new situation.

 

This is another "low-energy" Sunday, so take it easy. 

The good news, and the way through this, is Mars' trine to a retrograde Pluto. Taurus/Capricorn. Be stable/practical/responsible. Take care of your body, your resources. Do things that make sense/cents. Step into your power/ambitions. I know I sound like a broken record with some of this stuff, and by next spring I won't be saying it, but for now, stability/quality/knowing our value, knowing what we value, keeping an eye on our valuables WILL ALL PAY OFF!!

Back with that BIG Full Moon post! I hope something here is helpful.

xo all

artwork by the amazing Martin Stranka

Today's astrology forecast | Sunday, August 7, 2022 - the reality check, the path of least resistance or need for rest, playing the long game

 

 

The Moon is in Sagittarius - we are nourished/nurtured through adventure, through our big picture beliefs, our faith, by what is foreign to us, by making something bigger/taking something further. She trined her retrograde ruler Jupiter at 3:11 AM EDT (waking me up) and goes on to trine the Leo Sun at 2:21PM EDT.

The trine is this month's Waxing Trine (brakes off) - a fire trine, Sagittarius/Leo. Here is where we take our New Moon in Leo story FURTHER. The energies are smooth/productive. The Sag Moon expands, brings us closer to what is farther away from us. The Leo Sun shines, rules our heart, our creative passion, our children, the way we take the center-stage in our own life. We are moving something forward, feeling proud, hopeful. We hunger for life (the Sun, Leo), life hungers for GROWTH (Jupiter, Sagittarius).

Keep in mind the North Node in Taurus, South Node in Scorpio. Life takes one path (Taurus), death and decay (Scorpio) the other. And it's tricky because the death/decay is somehow more comfortable/familiar and the "life" more uncomfortable with Uranus in Taurus making mischief. This is NOT a one-time "invitation only" event, but more like a series of choice points. We are only at the beginning, and so, it just doesn’t feel so great for all of us quite yet!

This is also the day Venus, at 25 degrees Cancer is trining Neptune at 25 degrees Pisces. A water trine. A smooth flow of healing, forgiveness (the Sun trines Chiron tomorrow amplifying the healing/forgiving energy), unconditional love and compassion.

So, there is quite a bit of smooth flow to the day to balance out the more challenging Mars/Saturn square that reaches exactness at 22 degrees - Taurus/Aquarius. 

 

A fixed square. Coming on the heels of this past week's Mars/Uranus/North Node change of fortune/circumstances, etc, so the reality check/stop sign follows the change, chaos, liberation. Maybe this just shows the work we have to put in to make the changes real. Saturn is retrograde so old rules, limits are pulled into the new chapter. 

 

This might also show us running out of steam/tired. The trine to Neptune speaks of re-energizing through rest, sleep, art, music, time spent in or near water. Unloading old baggage through forgiveness/compassion.  

Mars/Saturn requires patience, elbow grease. Creates delays. Is activating last year's (and this year's) Saturn/Uranus square. With Mars in slow-moving, steady-as-she-goes Taurus, and Saturn in high-minded Aquarius, this is kind of a work harder and smarter energy. 

 

Two steps forward, one step back. 

We take action then we hit a wall. We have to make things smarter. Make things stronger. Know that none of this time will be wasted and certain delays won't be avoided. This is a long game. Whatever the New Moon in Leo last week started/is building is designed to be around for a long time. 

 

With the Venus/Neptune trine happening at the same time, maybe the Mars/Uranus/North Node forward movement is halted through something like a vacation. We are all revved up with something and now it's time for the vacation we penciled into our calendar last winter. The vacation might seem poorly timed and in some ways it is, but still needed/necessary. Or maybe the Venus/Neptune is some slippery slope - we are over-spending, over-indulging and the Saturnian reality check/stop-sign puts an end to that.

 

Use the smooth trines - the course of least resistance. It's Sunday. Get some rest. If we are tired/unbalanced, feeling as if we can’t hold onto the old structures of our life any longer, we’re probably right. 

 

What isn’t supporting the life in our life? How do we need to invest our life energy more consciously?

 

Anyhoo, I thought I'd pop up a daily although I'd said alot of this last week. Hopefully this fine-tuned it a bit. I will be back with the weekly tonight. I am working on a new line and will have less time for blogging this month (usual for me in August anyway), but will get up the weekly and BIG Full Moon in Aquarius post this week!

xo all

photography by the amazing Marion Volant

weekly astrology forecast | August 1 - August 6, 2022 - wake up calls about life direction, collective shocks, current events impact our future, it's change or be changed time fixed signs

 

August comes in like a lion, kicking off with the exact conjunction of Mars, Uranus and the North Node - this is a BIG-time wake-up call about our LIFE DIRECTION. 

If you are feeling uncertain about what you should be doing, the next two weeks will clear this up for you!

Doors will close. Windows will open - some of them might be painted over and require a push. 

For our NEW beginning to be SUCCESSFUL - this is in Taurus, so think about things that make sense/cents - it will require hard work, patience, discipline, cooperation with groups/collective goals, and for other things to END, which is where the conjunction's square to Saturn in Aquarius comes in. 

 

The kick in the ass we need. 

 

Life is amazing AND practical. 

 

Happening in fixed Earth Taurus, the triple conjunction will require our full commitment to the NEW and our letting go of the past. August is a time to face reality. How much of the mess we find ourselves in has been stoked by our own rigidity/fear of change/fear of lack and how can we shift our thinking with this (maybe see what we are gaining and not just what we are losing/have lost) in order to benefit from these changing/liberating energies? How can we do things differently?

 

Roll with the punches/roll right INTO THE FUTURE.

 

Let's jump right into the week, because it's not going to wait for us!

 

MONDAY - the triple conjunction of Mars/Uranus and the North Node of Fate (the future) at 18 degrees Taurus. People with plants/points in the fixed signs from 15-21 degrees will be feeling this strongest. This is designed to un-stick our stickiest spaces and continues yesterday's Uranus/North Node conjunction. This has been applying for a couple weeks and will be in orb for another couple weeks. It is exact today.

 

Mars is our action, anger, initiative, passion, masculine impulse. Can be destructive, so keep this in mind. When Mars meets change-maker Uranus - we are suddenly moving in a new direction. The North Node says this is our best path forward even if the Mars/Uranus lands us in a pickle/in a ditch/on our ass. This is the shortest/best route. This is probably the only route. Think about the way the world's problems seem so un-fixable, like we have past some point of fixing. We haven't. There is something like this going on in our own lives, too.

(when we had the big Pluto/Saturn back in January 2020, it wasn't until Mars reached that red hot degree in March 2021, that events were hugely triggered - with this conjunction we have the trigger WITH the conjunction - kaboom)

Happening in the fixed soil of Taurus, life will do what it takes to get us moving. Break-ups, breakthroughs, breakdowns, even accidents are possible now, so take care of yourself. Changes can come out of nowhere and for many people these changes will feel FORCED. With the North Node involved - trust this is the best direction forward. If sudden pivots away from something happen, trust we have taken that situation as far as it could go. It's change or be changed. Die or live.

Opposed to the South Node - the past, the death and complicated drama we are mired in NOW - these changes are designed to shake up our current reality and FREE US FROM THE PAST.

Expect collective SHOCKS. People will be reacting all over the place. We want to be the ones responding.

(Biden announced recurrence of covid - 12 house progressed Sun exact on this conjunction, so his health/mental health challenged while Putin - with the triple conjunction tightly conjunct his natal 7th house - open enemies - Jupiter - expansion - announces 'lightning speed response to interference', Uranus rules lightning/speed - the stuff happening now will be important/have ramifications, affect the future - hard/impossible to predict the next two weeks)

Keep in mind in your own life - measure twice. Cut once. These changes are permanent.

 

TUESDAY - Venus sextiles Mars and Uranus, Mercury inconjuncts Pluto

 

Now, Venus, the ruler of Taurus is sextiling (creative opportunity) both Mars and Uranus. This is helpful and happening along side the more dramatic energies. Helping us lean into the new. The more simple. The quality over quantity. We are starting down a new path and are at the beginning of the beginning. The Moon will be in Libra and answering to Venus, encouraging cooperation, balance, peace and partnership. At the same time Mercury inconjuncts Pluto on his/her way out of Capricorn, so there could be some verbal power struggles, ego clashes - this is the energy of a rock and a hard place/give-and-take. This is Leo/Capricorn. The king and the boss. Adjustments are needed.

 

THURSDAY - Mercury enters Virgo

 

After swimming in the emotional waters of Cancer and then getting burnt out fast in fiery Leo, Mercury finally comes home to Virgo! This is especially good news for Virgos and Geminis (Sun and Risings), but EVERYONE'S natal Virgo house and ability to manage our health, pets and day-to-day lives will benefit. With Mercury in Virgo, our thinking, writing and communication will be more practical and commonsense. We will be all about the details. Nothing gets by Mercury in Virgo.  But lots of things get dismissed. If it's not real/not factually stated/if it doesn't work - it's outta here.

This is an excellent transit for organization, cleaning, paperwork, taking care of our health, the ins and outs of our work and daily routine, our pets. We will see all the little problems, but still need to avoid nitpicking. Leo to Virgo is 'creating to critiquing' and that is natural/cyclical, but with everything all of us are dealing with this year we need to be gentle with each other.
 

The biting criticism (that will look to us like practical advice) that is right on the tip of our tongue might need to be swallowed sometimes. Gulp.

 

Mercury in Virgo will help us get the new thing GOING in a step-by-step practical manner. This can't come soon enough and like the Venus sextile is helpful. YAY!

FRIDAY - Venus inconjunct Saturn, First Quarter Moon (Scorpio/Leo)

Venus makes an awkward inconjunct to Saturn. We might feel burdened by responsibility or face some kind of limit with what we can/can't have. There is a need to adjust, do some give-and-take, be satisfied with less. Know there won't be an ideal solution, but we can find some common ground/a way through. 

 

The First Quarter Moon - Moon at 13 degrees Scorpio squaring the Sun in Leo. This is the Moon's first need to adjust after last week's BIG New Moon in Leo. The square is tension/frustration, triggers a crisis between dark and light, what is deep/hidden and the glossy exterior. The Leo Sun, amped up by his trine to Jupiter is optimism, is loud/proud, bold, wants to shine/maybe hog the limelight. The Scorpio Moon means we have to look at the shadow, can't push something under the rug or into a closet. We need to see what's underneath the shine.

SUNDAY - Mars squares Saturn, Venus trines Neptune 

Now, the Mars/Saturn square is exact - we talked about this energy in the opening of this post. This is the "no" or tension/frustration/ending that motivates us into new action or here is where our action is blocked maybe because we need to take certain old responsibilities, commitments and group situations into consideration. This can be frustrating/passive-aggressive, can bring clashes with authority. Road blocks. Reality checks.

 

The way through this one today will be Venus's trine to Neptune because Mars is answering to her. The dream, the escape, art, music, spirituality - it's Sunday, we don't have to beat our head against the wall. We can go higher/rise above the scuffle. Remember Venus is in a sextile to the triple conjunction and now is trining Neptune, so things can expand quickly. Boundaries dissolve. God, your ancestors, every good thing you have ever done is helping you.

 

With Mars/Saturn the harder we push, the harder things get. The Venus/Neptune says there is a path of least resistance here somewhere - find it. 

xo all

artwork by the amazing Julie de Waroquier

the astrology of the new moon in leo | Thursday, July 28, 2022 - restoring our enthusiasm and our faith, the background energy for the big changes ahead

On Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 1:54PM EDT. the Leo Moon meets the Leo Sun giving us this month's New Moon - our annual New Moon in Leo. 

 

This New Moon is happening in our Leo natal house. Our natal Leo house is where we are meant to "shine" - this is where we create, take risks and are "recognized". This "recognition" doesn't mean everyone is going to love what we are doing (although they might!).
 

But it does mean the stuff we are doing will stand out.

 

Let's dive right in and unpack the chart!

 

The Moon is conjunct the Sun at 5 degrees Leo. The Moon is trining Jupiter in Aries, strong and still and stationing retrograde within hours. This is a BIG deal. The Moon is conjunct Ceres and inconjunct Vesta, retrograde in Pisces. The Moon is EXACTLY conjunct asteroid Pythia. The ruler of the lunation is the Sun, doing everything the Moon is doing just a bit slower. The Moon's final aspect in Leo will be an opposition to Saturn.

That trine to Jupiter - arguably astrology's best aspect! - is applying, hasn't happened yet. The Moon's trine reaches exactness Thursday night, the Sun's (and remember he rules this lunation through his rulership of Leo) trine is exact on Sunday. The trine to Jupiter speaks of the ease of expansion with whatever is started now. Confidence with it. Attention/appreciation from it.

 

Luck. 

Jupiter opens windows/doors WIDE. 

The tricky part of this lucky/expansive trine, which we ignore at our own peril, is Jupiter's retro station which will happen before the Sun reaches his trine to Jupiter. The New Moon will trine a direct Jupiter and the Sun, just a couple days later, will trine a retrograde Jupiter. 

 

So, yes, the energy of this New Moon is expansive/lucky/abundant, BUT it is not going to be the usual smooth-sailing a trine often portends. There will be re-assessments and re-visions. Some of the opportunities can turn out to be empty promises, but the trine tells us this will somehow be ok, too. Maybe it leads us to something better. There could be DELAYS. This is actually a GOOD thing, even a GREAT thing, because trines, being such smooth aspects, are easy to miss - we get lazy, think our luck won't run out, and here we see that it can. 

 

I think what this fiery New Moon (especially since it is happening with the Mars/Uranus/North Node fire) is really designed to do is to show us - regardless of how this all turns out - that WE CAN STILL GET EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING! 

Many of us have been kind of running on auto-pilot and now here is something that lights our fire/gets us going/stirs our heart. 

Jupiter's station also indicates whatever has been GROWING in our lives since Jupiter moved into Aries in May can slow up now. The retrograde will be the time we put all the pieces together, decide what stays and what goes, what is true and what isn't. It's a time for the inner growth to catch up with the outer growth. If we have grown something good, this will be a time to go within - do we still want this? Does this still make sense/cents? Is there maybe a simpler way to go about this?

If what has grown is something we aren't happy with or the promised/hoped for goodies haven't been arriving - the next few months will be the time to make the changes to line up with what we want, so we are on a better path when Jupiter stations direct in November and maybe especially when he gets back in Aries next year. Maybe we need to lower our expectations (just a smidge!), maybe we aren't really following our heart with this one (Leo New Moon as Jupiter stations!), maybe we just need to work a little harder or our timing is wrong (Moon's final aspect that opposition to Saturn).

 

The Moon is conjunct Ceres (and although, out of sign, opposing Pluto, Ceres old foe), so let's take a look at Ceres. This is separating. Has already happened. Maybe we are taking better care of ourselves. Tending to our bodies/our garden. Noticing Mother Nature/the weather. Ceres in Cancer can bring out a kind of smother mothering, so maybe the Leo New Moon BREAKS THAT SPELL. Ceres in our natal chart tells where we have astounding power and creativity, but must always compromise. So, maybe we have been examining our own power. Like Pluto, Ceres in our natal chart is an area of life where we lose power/control again and again. The stages of being a parent as the child grows up is a good representation of this. It's also an area of life where other people will come along and 'test' their power against ours and we will usually lose if we can't find some kind of middle ground. Ceres rules change of life situations/the seasons of our lives and we will often see her in our natal chart touched by transit when we are going through predictable, but challenging life changes.

Conjunct the New Moon here, she is really doubling down on the birth of a new season - so whatever is starting is probably coming from the death/loss of something whose time was over. She might speak of a need to compromise with whatever we are starting. A need to take care of our health or someone else's (but not in a smothering kind of way). It can't be our way or the highway which is a kind of Leo-type thing. This is separating/unwinding, the Sun has already been here, so we probably already know this/what this is. 

The New Moon is inconjunct Vesta, retrograde in Pisces. So, something about this fresh start is at odds with Vesta's review of the dream/ideal that has kept us up at night. If Vesta's retrograde has brought us into some kind of 'tunnel-vision' with our Pisces house theme, this New Moon can bring a wake-up call. Something over HERE to take our attention away from what is over THERE. Inconjuncts require give and take. It's not an all or nothing thing - so more compromise shown by this chart. Leo wants to rule, Pisces wants to share the burden - stay flexible.

The Moon is exactly conjunct asteroid Pythia. Pythia is the name given to the priestesses who served at the Oracle of Delphi as seers. Discovered in 1897 conjunct Pluto and Black Moon Lilith, her discovery chart reinforces the "truth-teller/psychic" archetype, so it can pay to be following our intuitive hunches over the next month as this New Moon cycle plays out. She will add to our ability to see what is really happening at this New Moon even though this is the time in our monthly cycle when we are literally "in the dark". 

So, what do we have here? A BOLD New Moon in fiery Leo - the sign that rules our heart, our heart-filled desires, the Sun, the way we shine in the world, the way we take the center stage, children, romance, creative projects. Something here, or within the theme of your natal Leo house, is ready to START. That trine to benevolent Jupiter indicates whatever starts can grow/make us lucky. Just don't expect things to always proceed in a straight line, there will be some revisions, adjustments with it. This New Moon is enabling us to change our beliefs, worldview, 'big-picture' perspective.

 

The Moon's closing opposition to Saturn is out of orb here, but still speaks of remembering our responsibilities. Having patience. The Sun will perfect this opposition in mid-August. This can be depressing/restricting/feels isolating. Bring test/trials that are hard, but can also make us determined to succeed. Something to keep in mind with what we are starting now. 

(the Moon will oppose Saturn within hours, Moon/Saturn are the hardest aspects in astrology, in my opinion, so we could feel some kind of 'letdown' after the high of the restored enthusiasm)

Mercury is squaring Uranus indicating unexpected news and information now and over the next month that shakes us/wakes us up. Maybe it is this news/information that pushes us to examine our heart, change or start something NEW.

We are coming off the Black Moon Lilith/Jupiter childhood wound work and have hopefully recognized some triggers - just 'seeing' triggers (aha moments, oh that is why I am over-reacting to this) is healing/jams the trigger/takes away its power over us. Venus in Cancer met Black Moon Lilith this week both taking the edge off the wound (bringing Venusian acceptance to our Black Moon Lilith energy) AND bringing the woman who chooses herself/the womb wound to Venus (maybe in the form of someone/something that appears caring, and maybe is, but is also designed to deny us something in some way). And, of course, we have the Mars/Uranus/North Node conjunction perfecting this weekend and next week. This is the future reaching back to us. Mars meeting Uranus is combustible energy. We are going to need to be careful.  Anger, impulsivity, people can get very HOT - and if you are thinking I mean, sexy...well, that's possible, too, I guess, but mostly I am thinking of the kind of HOT that can get us hurt. This doesn't mean we hide, we need to ACTIVELY use this energy for something NEW, so less is freed up/active around us. Keep in mind the New Moon is squaring Mars/Uranus so these changes are kind of designed to be uncomfortable/deal with spaces we don't change unless we are forced to. Collectively we need to be smart with our money/resources now. 

I will write the Part II of that series next, but this New Moon energy will help.. 

 

This New Moon in Leo trining a stationing Jupiter is a fiery fresh start in the house of our chart that holds 5 degrees Leo - designed to RESTORE OUR ENTHUSIASM. Restore our faith. This New Moon cycle is the background energy as we head into the Mars/Uranus/North Node. Our heart, our passion, the ways we are here to shine are pulled into the future with us. 

INTENTION TIPS 

(I will be doing mine on Sunday night when the Moon is in Virgo and interacting with Venus)

Clear a space. Wash your hands. Speak intentionally (and less) in the time leading up to and following this ritual to give your thoughts/words more juice. Don't share them. This is all about you. Let your heart (aided by your head) guide you, write your intentions down by hand in script on a blank piece of paper, speak the words out loud, sit with this as long as it feels appropriate, then burn the paper - release your attention from these things knowing your intention is known.

Life has heard you. 


Know these things are already yours.

 

xo all

the astrology of the week of July 25 to July 31, 2022 - wake up calls and sudden changes of circumstance, red alert for the next two weeks, the U.S. chart is lit up like a Christmas tree

 

 

This week begins a volatile two week transit. You might be already feeling this. We talked about some of the energies HERE.

 

It is teeming with opportunities, but I don't want to sugar coat this, these changes are brought to us by economical, political, social, personal and environmental CHALLENGES. These are cosmic course corrections that will prove pivotal to our collective and individual DESTINIES.

 

Am I over-stating this? I don't think so.

 

If you have been parked at the station, this week (and next) is where the train pulls in. The only thing we know about this train is it won't be the train you were expecting to be on. It might be going in a totally different direction. That doesn't matter. The train that pulls in - and, yes, "pulls in" might feel something like "runs you over", but either way, this is THE TRAIN YOU NEED, although you might change trains later, it's not possible to know because our actions personally and collectively are CHANGING WHERE WE ARE NEEDED/changing where the train is going

 

(and if you are already on a train, well, if a course correction is needed, here is where the train might change course).

 

The Age of Aquarius portals are wide OPEN. 

 

The future is reaching back to us and pulling us forward. Let's stay open to sudden insights and synchronicities. 

 

After we get through the first few days of August, things will slow down enough for us to catch our breath and then when Mars enters Gemini in late August, the pace will pick up again and more important changes will impact our next few months. I'd say buckle up, but 'hang on loosely' and keep moving forward, might be better advice.

Let's unpack the week!

 

MONDAY - Venus, at 8 degrees Cancer, squares Jupiter in Aries, while Juno stations retrograde at 21 degrees Pisces. The Moon in Gemini trines a retrograde Saturn and goes void at 4:14AM EDT off a square to a retrograde Neptune in Pisces, until she comes home to Cancer at 1:54PM EDT.

Let's start with Juno. Juno was the third asteroid discovered. Named for the long-suffering wife of Jupiter, she shows the "for better or worse" energies of commitment in our chart. In our natal, by house and sign, she is about who/what we "commit/wed" ourselves to. Juno became Queen of the Gods through her marriage to Jupiter, the King of the Gods. Picture Carmella Soprano in a tiara. This is the space in our chart where we get the goodies - the prestige/security- when we make a commitment, but we also get the "baddies" - loss of freedom/independence. 

 

Two things are happening when Juno stations retrograde. Transiting Juno goes back and forth over 21 - 7 degrees Pisces through October 23rd when she stations direct (the same day Saturn stations direct and both Venus and the Sun enter Scorpio, so this will be even more important). 7-21 degrees Pisces will get a thorough cleaning by Juno. How much bang are we getting for our buck? What sacrifices are too much? Where are we wanting to have our cake and eat it, too? Important connections/agreements can ebb and flow and lack clear boundaries with Juno in Pisces anyway and now she is retrograding here, so expect some changeable seas as we all pull back a bit to re-look at our commitments.

This is also the day Venus squares Jupiter. Now, since these are both benevolent energies this will only get bad if our rose-colored-glasses are wearing rose-colored-glasses. There are some reality checks coming later in the week, so don't over-invest right now. Don't get greedy. If it looks too good to be true, it will be. Not the day for a big haircut. Emotional fulfillment will be challenging since we could be a bit like a bottomless cup right now. This energy is good for socializing, not so good for getting work done that requires efforts you don't want to make, so keep this in mind if you have some control over your schedule today. And, oh yes, back away from the pie, especially from that third slice!

The Moon will be void until early afternoon (EDT), so not the morning to start anything brand new if you want something to come of it and don't want to do it all over again later. Once the Moon gets home to Cancer in the afternoon our focus will turn to home, family, mothering, the past, home/family business or real estate situations. 

TUESDAY - Mercury, at 14 Leo squares Mars in Taurus while the Moon in Cancer squares Jupiter, meets up with Venus and then sextiles Mars

This is an argument. Verbal tension/frustration. News that pulls us up short. Mercury in Leo needs attention/wants to shine, maybe that is a problem with Mars in Taurus requiring more practical action. There could be a need for an ego adjustment. Maybe we need to let the other person get a word in. On the other hand, and this is why we get two of them, maybe it is a stuck Mars who needs to keep up with Mercury - maybe loud and proud is exactly what we need to be. Just know these are fixed signs, so no one is backing down. And keep in mind, Mercury is making his/her way to a "choice point" with the North Node of Fate at the end of the week, so words/our thinking now REALLY MATTERS. And, of course, Mars - our actions, passion, angers - is on his journey to change-maker Uranus AND the North Node of Fate. Maybe something now is forcing our hand. We need to be smart.

The Moon in Cancer will make us a bit, or alot, more emotional as she squares Jupiter in the morning (EDT), but her meeting with Venus in the late morning will be helpful - our wants and our emotions on the same page. By nighttime she will be sextiling Mars, putting that earlier argument to bed or pulling us home to family for comfort. 

WEDNESDAY - Mercury, at 18 degrees Leo, trines (brakes off) Chiron in Aries while the Moon sextiles Uranus, trines Neptune and goes void off her monthly square to Pluto at 8:54PM EDT.

 

Maybe the aftermath of yesterday's argument/stressful news brings healing. Makes us feel lighter/heard. Or maybe this is an entirely new situation. Either way, it will be easy to say the right thing. We could be communicating about an uncomfortable/vulnerable situation. Maybe a health situation (news can come in now or we could be consulting with someone). Or maybe we are talking about our fears about not being able to take care of ourselves or be ourselves. Whatever this is, we are saying it with courage/not hiding the warts.

For the Moon, our emotions, it is pretty smooth sailing with a nice healing flow to Neptune until she gets to that opposition - power struggle - with powerful Pluto to close out the day. Every month the Moon in Cancer gets this little micro-death. Intense culmination energy. What's been repressed comes up to be looked at/dealt with. This is uncomfortable. There is enough happening this week, I'm going to bed early.

 

THURSDAY - NEW MOON IN LEO at 5 degrees, with the Moon/Sun trining Jupiter as Jupiter stations retrograde and Mercury, at 18 degrees Leo, squares Uranus in Taurus

 

BIG New Moon post next. There are unexpected opportunities here for heart-felt new beginnings/ways to shine. Something here about the way we value ourselves/our self-worth. We will unpack this in its own post. I like this Moon, alot.

FRIDAY - Mercury, at 19 degrees Leo, squares the North Node while the Moon in Leo squares first Mars and then Uranus before meeting up with Mercury tonight.

Do you think it's a coincidence the Moon is in Leo to join Mercury as Mercury squares the North Node of Fate? I don't!

Mercury square the Nodes is a choice/pivot point. A crossroad. Maybe challenging news that changes our direction.

 

What's it going to be? Back into the chaotic, dramatic, complicated "death" that has grown COMFORTABLE, because we are designed (in order to stay alive) to crave the familiar or FORWARD to something NEW and untested, but more simple. With Mercury in Leo we want to be talking/thinking about what our heart really wants. Do we really want to shine in the same old tired ways? Or can we release the need for unnecessary drama, compulsions, manipulations, trying to control what someone else is doing/saying/thinking? Can we stop talking about/thinking about what is dead and dying or these intense situations long enough to see what is GROWING? Can we reconsider what we have come to see as necessary if it is strangling us?

 

Decisions made now/words used will matter, impact our future and could be public. 

 

 Our thinking can shift. Note - Mercury's next move is an opposition to Saturn in Aquarius, so a reminder of our responsibilities/a reality check is coming. 

The Moon in Leo squares Mars and then Uranus (actions and changes that challenge our ego/pride/our heart are possible). Then the Moon meets up with Mercury to chat. Time to choose. The Moon in Leo answering to the Sun in Leo will make sure our heart is heard. 

SATURDAY - the Moon in Leo goes void at 12:20AM EDT off her monthly opposition to Saturn. She will be void until 2:11PM EDT when she moves into practical/organized Virgo.

So, until we get to later in the afternoon, this would not be the day to start anything we want 'something to come of' since the Moon needs the energy of another planet to make things happen. A good day to sleep in, relax and take it easy. We know, other than her monthly opposition to Neptune, the Moon in Virgo is going to be making nice aspects for the next couple days. It's not the Moon's favorite sign, but she will help level out our emotions if the next few days are challenging - we'll take it!

SUNDAY - Mercury, at 22 degrees Leo opposes Saturn, Venus at 16 degrees Cancer squares Chiron, Uranus, at 18 degrees Taurus meets the North Node of Fate and the Sun, at 8 degrees Leo trines Jupiter

So, now we reach the first day of the BIG show, and, of course, we know these aspects cannot be so precisely timed, so things might have already happened - even last week because Uranus pulls the future back to meet us/speeds up time. They might be happening now or happen after the aspects have separated. 

 

Next week is a continuation of this week. BIG, too.

 

This is a LIBERATING SHOCK. It is hard to know how much of this we can see coming, and, of course, some will feel this more strongly than others, but I suspect collective events will have us ALL feeling this. A TRAIN HAS PULLED INTO THE STATION AND WE HAD BETTER GET OUR ASSES INTO A SEAT!

 

Or maybe the train has run right into us, it is hard to say what this will actually feel like because changes/karmic awakenings can be, and are often, uncomfortable/painful. The triple conjunction is squaring reality-check Saturn, so even more challenging. Saturn is in Aquarius, so brought to us via our collective responsibilities maybe.

 

The Sun/Jupiter gives us optimism, faith if we reach for it. Something old being put to right via challenging circumstances. 

The future is being fast-tracked!

OK, I will be back with the New Moon post and we will talk about that and Jupiter retrograde which will take us back into Pisces. And we will look again at the Mars/Uranus/North Node in part II of that series before this weekend - it will be huge for Russia and Ukraine and is hitting Putin's chart very precisely. 

 

If you are starting/planning something NEW and cosmically in sync with the future, maybe you are already in the energies of these big shifts and will get confirmations you are on the right course. That Taurus house of ours that has been rocking and rolling these last few years is where we can expect the unexpected. Again.

xo all

artwork by the talented anyannti

the astrology of the Mars, Uranus, North Node conjunction of 2022 | a world on fire, carrying a flame we didn't light, the divine intervention - part I

 

Just when we thought the 2020's couldn't get any crazier/hotter, wait, did we think that?! 

 

No, I don't think we did! 

 

At the end of July and into the beginning of August we have the very powerful/very unusual triple conjunction of Mars, Uranus and the North Node at 18 degrees Taurus.

 

This is HUGE!

 

Their last triple conjunction was during the peak of the Revolutionary War, during the French Revolution and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and this hasn't happened in Taurus since hundreds of years before the birth of Christ!

 

Uranus is wild card energy, mad scientist meets Billy the Kid meets "I can't take this anymore!".

 

This is Mars - our will, action, passion, the trigger for physical events, anger, force, the God of War, aggression, violence. Mars is the ruler of our Aries natal house (the space we attack and defend) now in Taurus - the sign of his detriment - since he is the ancient ruler of Taurus's polarity sign of Scorpio. In Taurus, Mars learns patience and to value stability, but can get his boots stuck in the fixed earth, mired in situations (very un-Martian behavior, but keep in mind he isn't able to behave normally here) where, maybe to keep things stable, we just do the thing and then we just keep on doing the thing. 

Uranus is set up to CHANGE all that. He is the planet/God of 'not standing still', the future, liberation, revolution, technology, independence. This is the energy of "I can't stay stuck in the mud. I won't be kept waiting. I can't keep doing this."  

 

Then we make a run for it! 

 

In our natal chart, Uranus is a trauma signature. 

 

It's a past life/ancestral SHOCK that we carry into this lifetime, in the same way Prometheus carried fire to the people. If the Sun in our birthchart is where we are shiny/bring our light, then Uranus is where we are fractured/bring our chaos. It's where we spend our life creating/inventing the NEW. Often without even meaning to! Sometimes in very complicated and even painful ways. Sometimes we get more blame than credit for what we make of our Uranus placement. And, sometimes we try to reel in our creation/stabilize things, but it has taken on a life of its own - think Frankenstein's monster here - and won't be controlled/contained. Needs to move/shift - think of the way flames travel. This is not because we shouldn't have created whatever this is in the first place because, well, it's part of what we came here to do - and imagine a world without Promethean fire!

 

This is all happening at 18 degrees Taurus, breaking up the order/the structure/the fixed nature at the center of Taurus (on the sabian symbol of "a new continent rising out of the ocean"). Taurus is collectively about - the planet Earth, our finances, our values, our resources. This is an earthquake. An eruption. If Mars in Taurus is one of those controlled burning forest fires (to destroy old-growth in order to prevent the out-of-control type), then Mars/Uranus/Taurus is the out-of -control type!

Mars and Uranus meet every couple years and start a new two year cycle. Change is created, often just for the sake of change, but there would be no way of knowing we were going in a BETTER direction, it would just be a DIFFERENT direction.

THIS YEAR is different and thousands of years in the making.

 

This year when they meet, they are joined with the North Node of Fate - our best way forward. Which, yes, seems to be through THE FIRE - the chaos, the radical change, the liberation, the revolution - so will be challenging, require courage. 

 

But, still here is the fated FUTURE - the Gods-guided one. 

 

And, yes, it's so bright is hurts our eyes!

If the synchronicity of all this isn't enough, Venus, the ruler of Taurus, so everything is ANSWERING TO HER is exactly sextiling the whole thing from Cancer - the sign of safety, home, family, patriotism, mom and apple pie. 

 

And Venus pulls in our relationships - which are surely being put through the fire now - our sense of fairness/justice/balance. Venus works well in Cancer - can get too soggy after a while, but at 18 degrees is kind of 'peaking' - our relationships, our values/self-esteem and our money/resources are filtered through the watery lens of home, family, mothering, safety, childhood. With Venus in Cancer, there is alot of wanting what we didn't get in our childhood and we've just been through a lengthy Black Moon Lilith square Jupiter transit (if you requested a Black Moon Lilith look at your natal from me and didn't get it please let me know, I sent quite a few through my phone and started getting 'your text did not go through' messages at one point, but I think they have all gone out) digging into childhood woundings/lies. 

With multiple uncomfortable planets in Taurus energies, it is very good news we have a comfortable Venus in this exact sextile (creative opportunity)!

 

It unpacks like this:

 

(keep in mind this is building for a few days before and unwinding for a few days after, so is already in play)

JULY 31st - Mercury at 22 Leo (coming off square to the North Node) opposes Saturn in Aquarius, Venus at 16 Cancer squares Chiron in Aries, Uranus at 18 (first time at 18 degrees in 84 years) Taurus conjuncts the North Node in Taurus, the Sun at 8 Leo trines Jupiter in Aries, Jupiter has just stationed retrograde a couple days earlier and is strong/still

AUGUST 1st - Mars at 18 Taurus conjuncts the North Node in Taurus, Mars at 18 Taurus conjuncts Uranus in Taurus

AUGUST 2nd - Venus at 18 Cancer sextiles North Node in Taurus, Venus at 18 Cancer sextiles Uranus in Taurus, Venus at 19 Cancer sextiles Mars in Taurus 

 

We will dive into all this beginning with the weekly forecast this week. We can recognize that life is FRAGILE and life has ALWAYS been fragile. We can still find ways to make ourselves and our personal situations LESS fragile. Also, keep in mind, this triple conjunction is BEING CUSHIONED in Taurus, slowed down, absorbed by the fixed Earth even as the changes themselves change the Earth's solid surface.

Now, Uranus is WILD CARD energy, so there is no real predicting what is going to happen here.  

 

We don't know what the effects of what we do will be, so we have to treat all our actions STARTING RIGHT NOW as precious and important.

 

This happening during the U.S. Pluto return with Uranus/Mars/the North Node EXACT on President Biden's progressed 12th house (endings) Sun and within one degree of Vice President Harris's progressed 10th house (career, reputation, voice in the world) Jupiter and exactly opposing her progressed natal Neptune AND, heads up, we have a BIG New Moon this week EXACT on the United States natal North Node - signals HUGE changes for the United States. And the world.

 

The triple conjunction itself is within 1 degree of the United States natal Vesta - what we hold sacred, what keeps us up at night, our sacred flame (yes, more fire imagery, sorry! keep in mind fires/riots purge old energies, maybe picture the Statue of Liberty here and the U.S. story with Uranus on both the U.S. 7th house cusp and Biden's natal 7th house cusp - so here's the fire he brings to us - of being made of 'the other' and yet, still, castigating the other as other!). 

 

Vesta, Saturn's daughter, also pulls in themes of male authority and female response.

Short term collective events can be chaotic. Long term, Taurus is fixed Earth, so a LONG TERM ENERGETIC - this triple conjunction bodes well for all of us, is FATED. The Sun is also trining a very powerful retrograde Jupiter (U.S. chart ruler). In the U.S. (which has always been a kind of Aquarian experiment) and the world, this 'divine intervention' is chaotic, liberating, rare, a destiny level re-ignition of what we hold most SACRED. 

 

As we feel, Venus in Cancer, the turmoil within ourselves and our families - when events feel they are moving too fast - TAKE A BREATH. 

 

With the North Node in Taurus we have been 'getting back to basics', living through a need to take a sober look at serious stability issues. Earth signs are also about belonging/our network. We are only as strong as our ROOTS.

 

For some people, this time period has been like putting a comma in a long sentence. A need to regroup/take a breather. Wait for the new words to arrive/write themselves. 

Mars/Uranus/North Node can pull in the "new" like a forest fire clears the brush.  

Some 'flames' are just a kind of frenzy and need to burn themselves out. That's OK. They clear a path. Open a road/our mind/our heart. 

The more important flame that Vesta nurtures cannot be totally extinguished/can be re-ignited when it has ebbed low. Think about that Uranus in your natal chart - that "fire" you carry for the collective through your own trauma wound. How does this matter now?

We still have alot to happen this week before the 'destiny-defining' conjunction.

 

We have a bold New Moon is Leo with an unexpected twist and Jupiter is going to station retrograde - so we will be going backward to get lucky! 

 

Between the New Moon and the triple conjunction we also have the Delta Aquarid meteor shower, quite literally the Age of Aquarius raining down on our heads, folks.

Back with the weekly and the New Moon posts which will make everything a bit clearer, I hope! Then we'll dive back into the Mars-Uranus-North Node in Part II.

xo all 

 

Stay cool everyone. Please excuse any typos, too sticky in this hot studio to re-read this morning!

artwork by the amazing oprisco